Rehyaa mind-linked the girls to inquire whether they had breakfast or not, while Vivaan informed Yara that he had a solution. As soon as Rehyaa received a positive response, she asked the girls to take care and inform her in case of any need, before shutting down her mind-link.

Pack members stared at them in excitement as Vivaan and Rehyaa covered the distance between the pack house and Yara's home. They so wanted to reach out to speak with their Future Alpha and Luna, but stopped, respecting the request of Luna Mahira.

Yara opened the door and slightly bowed her head in respect of her future Luna, even if Sachi didn't feel the urge just like she never felt it with Vivaan.

"You don't need to bow as it seems that we both have similar standing in terms of ranking." Rehyaa spoke as she found that the aura around the Beta was as strong as her own.

Yara smiled at her wordlessly, before gesturing them to come inside. Nihal stood up from the loveseat to welcome them while Hritika lazily waved from the armchair.

"Wh...what are you doing?" Nihal asked awkwardly when Rehyaa bowed her head.

"Umm...you have a stronger aura than Vivaan..soo," she hesitantly answered, not knowing if she made a mistake.

"I don't know about auras but as far as I know, I am the future Beta's mate and that's how it is going to be. So you don't need to bow," Nihal said, still feeling a little awkward.

Noticing the awkwardness, Hritika butted in, trying to change the direction of conversation.

"Hii, I am Hritika. It's nice to meet you. Sorry, I can't greet you properly as my legs are all cramped because of a certain someone," she said while looking tauntingly at Vivaan.

"It's not my fault that you have no physical strength. Moreover, first day is always harder. Don't even think about giving up." Vivaan responded sternly.

Other three people were confused by their interaction as they had no idea about the morning run of these two.

Shrugging it off, Yara came to the main concern.

"You said you were coming with a solution. What is it? Where is it?" Yara asked, looking for chefs or food parcels.

Vivaan just pointed his finger at his mate as an answer.

"I hope, I am thinking wrong and you aren't actually going to ask your mate to cook. You do realize that she just came today and must be tired," Hritika said with disbelief.

"I volunteered." Rehyaa spoke before anyone else could blame her mate.

"Look, I would love to continue the talking but can we please cook first?We don't have much time." Yara pleaded, her eyes filled with worry.

"You worry too much," Vivaan muttered and received a glare from Yara.

Rehyaa entered the kitchen and immediately fell in love with it. It was smaller than the one she was used to but perfect for three people. It wasn't over the top like her pack's kitchen was, yet had the newest and easiest machines, to help cook faster.

Rehyaa was shocked when she saw Nihal enter the kitchen and start washing the vegetables.

"You can sit with others. I will manage," she said, feeling a little out of place.

"I can't let you do all the work when you are the guest. You do the main cooking while I would assist you as much as I can." Nihal spoke with a smile.

"And please don't refuse. I would really feel bad." Nihal added when he saw that Rehyaa was about to protest.

Rehyaa chuckled a little and gave up. She then proceeded to ask him for a few ingredients as she didn't know where they were placed and informed him about the vegetables that needed to be chopped.

Nihal placed a plate with onions, an empty bowl and a knife on Hritika's lap, startling the hell out of her.

"What?!"

"Your legs are paining but your hands are totally fine." Nihal quipped.

Hritika huffed but did what was asked. She was already annoyed but hearing Vivaan and Yara laughing at her was the last stroke.

"Don't you have any work? I know you both don't know a single thing about cooking but you can atleast help by setting the dining table and getting extra chairs from the storage room." She spoke or rather scolded, making the best friends pout.

"They are the future leaders. Don't you think you should show some respect?" Rehyaa asked.

Hritika's behaviour was troubling her from the start but she had let it go thinking that being a human, Hritika wasn't aware of the proper customs while talking to the leaders. But scolding and ordering them; Rehyaa couldn't ignore it.

"Just because I talk with him casually, it doesn't mean that I don't respect him. Even if he wasn't a future Alpha, I have immense respect for the person he is," Hritika replied, looking at Rehyaa cooly.

Vivaan looked at Rehyaa then at Hritika in despair.

"Hritika, please don't feel bad. Rehyaa, was talking in terms of the Alpha's relationship with normal pack members. She doesn't know that you are like my elder sister. If she knew that we are family then she wouldn't have questioned our banter." Vivaan tried to diffuse the situation.

Hearing Vivaan, Rehyaa closed her eyes in mortification. She made another blunder. At this rate, she was going to crowned as the Queen of Blunders.

Hritika turned her face away from Rehyaa who was standing in kitchen with her eyes closed, to look at Vivaan.

"I had told this to Nihal before and I would like to say the same to you. Don't come in between our fights. You are important to both; me and your mate. So don't bother meddling in unless we take it too far," Hritika stated firmly, before ordering, "Go and comfort your mate, she is crying."

Vivaan's head snapped at Rehyaa's direction in alarm, before rushing towards her. Nihal left the kitchen to give the couple some space.

"I..I am so sorry. I wasn't aware." Rehyaa hiccupped.

"It's okay. It's okay." Vivaan tried to calm her down but it wasn't of any use.

"I should have just kept my mouth shut." Rehyaa spoke, angry at herself.

"No, it is better that you worded it out." Nihal spoke up.

"Huh?"

Everyone's reaction was same, causing Nihal to roll his eyes.

"If she didn't speak then this thing would have troubled her for so long. And it is also our fault that we forgot to mention the dynamics of our relationship with Vivaan," Nihal explained with a sigh. He hated having to explain his thoughts. Why couldn't everyone just understand it in the first try?

Everyone nodded in agreement. They all were in wrong.

"I am sorry, Hritika." Rehyaa still apologized, wanting to be on good terms with her mate's family.

"It's okay," Hritika replied, while wiping her tears.

"What happened to you now?" Vivaan asked, fearing that Rehyaa's words had hurted Hritika too much.

Hritika rolled her eyes before picking up the plate of half cutted onions to show her answer.